Marvel Comics' Alternative Thor

October 27th, 2017

Thor Ragnarok is looking like it is going to be the best Thor movie to date. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 98% and the previews have been amazing. These previews have shown that Thor is going to take a page out of Guardians Of The Galaxy's playbook and make things more jovial with light-hearted jokes and bright colors.

The movie will focus on Thor and Loki, but we were also given a great surprise when it was announced that Hulk will be making his first appearance since Avengers: Age Of Ultron. Many of you know these three characters from the movies and the regular Marvel Comics Universe, Earth 616, but there are multiple versions of these characters that are completely different from the ones you know. So, I'd like to share some of my favorite alternate reality Thors, Hulks, and Loki in preparation for Marvel's Thor: Ragnarnok.

Loki: Blood Brothers (Earth-94001)

Credit: Marvel Comics

Loki has been a thorn in Thor's behind for centuries. But what made Loki so obsessed with the destruction of Thor and all of Asgard? In Thor & Loki: Blood Brothers, a different perspective was given to the way Loki was raised. Here, Loki was picked on by Thor, Sif, and Balder in his youth. He just wanted to be one of the group, but the rest of the Asgardians looked down on him and treated Loki as if he was inferior. His new motivation was a nice twist to the story, and in this reality, Thor was the real villain (and a major bully).

Ultimate Thor (Earth-1610)

Credit: Marvel Comics

Other than both being the Asgardian god of thunder, there isn't much that this Thor has in common with the Thor from the 616 Universe. In this universe, Thor was a psychiatric nurse named Thorlief Golmen. On his 30th birthday, he had what many thought was a nervous breakdown. However, what Thorief was actually having were visions of his real life as an Asgardian. People on Earth (including his teammates) believed that Thor was not the god of thunder, and that he was just a delusional mutant. It wasn't until the near destruction of the United States that the Ultimates (that universe's Avengers) and the rest of the world realized that he was the genuine article.

This Thor began his story carrying a different kind of Mjinlor. It had a longer shaft and one end had an axe. Ultimate Thor embraced his 'hippy' side, and spent a lot of his time speaking about the American Government and how the world was treating the environment.

Thor: Herald of Galactus (Earth-717)

Credit: Marvel Comics

This is a universe where Galactus, the eater of Worlds, came to make Asgard his dinner. Rather than fight and see many of his people die, Thor agreed to become the herald of Galactus and search the universe for suitable planets for Galactus to eat. But Thor wasn't picking planets at random. He was only selecting planets that were beyond repair or completely evil. This may have constantly kept Thor exhausted, but it meant that Asgard would remain safe from his new master's wrath.

When the news of Odin's death, Thor returned to Asgard to find Loki in charge. Thor freed his captured friends, sent them to Earth (where the Asgardians became heroes and celebrities) and allowed Galactus to devour Asgard. Thor remained his herald, making sure only the worst planets were destroyed.

Thor's Battle World (Earth-15513)

Credit: Marvel Comics

This was an amazing idea that sounds silly on paper: Let's take a bunch of characters, make them different versions of Thor (Groot Thor, Storm Thor, and so on) and make them a team of police officers that solve crimes and uphold the law in Dr. Doom's new world.

This may sound absurd, but it worked! In this story, Ultimate Thor and Beta Ray Bill worked to solve the case of dying Jane Fosters throughout the realm. Of course, the culprit isn't someone any of the Thors would have suspected.

Maestro (Earth-9200 & 616)

Credit: Marvel Comics

This is what happens when the the world leaders decide to nuke the world.

With most of Earth's super-powered beings dead, Maestro rules a section of Earth called Dystopia. This Hulk combines Bruce Banner's genius intellect with the Hulk's power and rules with an iron fist. Maestro is ruthless, powerful, and unforgiving. To cross him meant death. Displaced from his world, Hulk currently resides in the regular 616 universe and recently went toe-to-toe with Old Man Logan – which didn't work out to well for Maestro.

Ultimate Hulk (Earth-1610)

Credit: Marvel Comics

This story shows a vegetarian Bruce Banner and a Hulk with cannibalistic tendencies!

This Hulk was nothing like any of the others. He was easily manipulated and actually kind of evil. He was used by Nick Fury (multiple times), Reed Richards, and even his wife, Betty, to an extent. So, it makes sense that he might be a little evil after being used by everyone he should be able to trust. He wasn't the best Hulk in this bunch, but he was easily the most unpredictable and savage.

Old Man Logan's Hulk (Earth- 807128)

Credit: Marvel Comics

In Old Man Logan's future, the bad guys win, but one thing that's certain in almost all realities is you don't cross the Hulk.

Hulk was the landlord of most of the western coast of the United States. His land ran from Seattle all the way down to the end of California. This Hulk went crazy. It's assumed that the radiation went to his head and drove him mad, but the things he did were sickening – including imbreeind with his cousin Jennifer Walter a.k.a. She-Hulk.

Like many others, Hulk and his clan met their demise when they went up against Wolverine (now called Old Man Logan). Logan killed almost all of Banner's kids and killed Hulk after he was eaten – having clawed his way out of Hulk's stomach.